When it comes to your health, we know every ingredient matters. And at OlivinoLife, transparency is at the core of everything we do. That’s why we want to share the question Annette recently asked through our customer portal:
“The nutrition label shows that there is sunflower oil in the ingredients. Aren’t seed oils heavily processed and unhealthy? Why would this oil be used in your supplement?”
What a great question! And the answer is simple: sunflower oil plays a small but important role in delivering the nutrients and other important plant antioxidants your body needs. More importantly, the minuscule amount of sunflower oil used in Olivino Essential is perfectly safe, even for the most health-conscious users.
But before I break down the reasons we use this seed oil at all, I want to discuss something else: a fundamental principle of toxicology (I can’t help it…. I’m a toxicologist!).
The Dose Makes the Poison
This foundational concept means that any substance can be harmful in excessive amounts--but may also be perfectly safe or even beneficial in small doses. This principle also applies to seed oils. While overconsumption of highly processed seed oils may pose health risks, the negligible amount used in dietary supplements such as Olivino Essential are unlikely to cause harm. In fact, they can serve a useful purpose by delivering essential fatty acids or aiding in the absorption of fat-soluble nutrients or other bioactive compounds.
Now let’s shed greater perspective on the sunflower “dose” issue:
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One Tablespoon (3 teaspoons) of sunflower oil = 14,000 mg of fat
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One Olivino Essential softgel contains less than 1% of a Tablespoon—a smaller amount than you'd get from touching a salad fork or sauté pan.
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This trace amount is not nearly enough to affect your healthy dietary fat balance or omega-6 intake in any meaningful way.
What IS the Deal with Seed Oils?
You may have heard that seed oils, such as soybean, corn and sunflower oil, may be harmful especially when consumed in large amounts or in heavily processed forms. Those concerns stem from the following:
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High Omega-6 Fatty Acid Content: Many seed oils are high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fats. While omega-6 is essential, an imbalanced ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet may promote chronic inflammation, which is linked to various diseases.
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Processing and Refinement: Industrial seed oils are often extracted using high heat and chemical solvents, which can degrade nutrients and create oxidation products or trans fats. These byproducts may have negative health effects if consumed in large quantities.
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Oxidation and Stability: Polyunsaturated fats are more prone to oxidation during cooking or long storage, producing free radicals that may contribute to cell damage and inflammation.
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Association with Processed Foods: Seed oils are a common ingredient in ultra-processed foods, which are linked to obesity, heart disease, and metabolic disorders. The oils themselves may not be the sole issue, but their widespread use in unhealthy foods contributes to concern.
But the important point is: none of these issues pertain to Olivino Essential. And let me state again: the minuscule amount of sunflower oil used in Olivino Essential is perfectly safe!
So, why DO we use sunflower oil at all? Let’s break down the reasons:
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It serves as a carrier oil. This helps Olivino Essential deliver fat-soluble nutrients (vitamins D and E) and enhance the absorption of powerful plant-based compounds like olive polyphenols and tomato lycopene. These bioactive ingredients require a bit of fat to be properly absorbed by your body and helps your body make the most of Olivino Essential.
2. Our sunflower oil is high quality. Rather than using synthetic additives or animal-based oils, we chose a high-quality sunflower oil that is plant-based, neutral in taste, easily digestible, and allergen-friendly.
3. Our sunflower oil is refined for purity and safety. It is carefully refined for purity and free from trans fats and common allergens. It’s also: non-GMO, oxidation-resistant, and sourced from trusted suppliers. Plus, every batch of Olivino Essential is third-party tested by Certified Laboratories [1] to ensure safety, quality, and consistency—so you’re only getting what you need, and nothing you don’t.
4. Your Health Comes First! Our goal with Olivino Essential is to support your long-term wellness using science-backed ingredients—and the tiny amount of sunflower oil is part of that smart, effective delivery system. If you’re eating a balanced, whole-food-based diet, this small addition is no cause for concern. In fact, avoiding a beneficial supplement due to trace carrier oils could end up holding you back from the nutrients and other important compounds your body truly needs.
Still Have Questions? We’re Here to Help!
At OlivinoLife, we believe in educating our community—not hiding behind a label. We would be happy to walk you through our ingredients and sourcing process. And we’re proud to say that every component of Olivino Essential is there for a reason—and your well-being is always the top priority! Reach out to us anytime—we’re here to support your health journey!
[1] https://certified-laboratories.com/
